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May 17, 2007 -- GE Healthcare of Chalfont St. Giles, U.K., has filed a lawsuit against compact-ultrasound developer SonoSite of Bothell, WA. The lawsuit charges SonoSite with infringing on GE patents for compact-ultrasound technology.

GE filed the lawsuit on May 15 in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin. The company charges that SonoSite's MicroMaxx and/or Titan scanners infringe on GE patents Nos. 4,932,415; 5,584,294; 6,120,447; 6,210,327; and 6,418,225 relating to ultrasound technology. GE said it is seeking "unspecified monetary damages and an injunction."

SonoSite spokesperson Anne Bugge said the company has not yet been formally served with the case, but is evaluating its options. "We are just in the early stages of analyzing it," Bugge said. "We intend to vigorously defend our rights."